Self-Distracting Cage
First Claim
1. A spinal implant, comprising:
- an expandable container having an interior volume that is selectively expandable between a compressed condition and an expanded condition;
a superior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with a superior surface of the expandable container;
an inferior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with an inferior surface of the expandable container; and
at least one inlet port formed in the expandable container that is effective to communicate a fluid to at least one cavity disposed within the interior volume of the expandable container.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various spinal implants and methods for stabilizing the spine are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a spinal implant is provided having an expandable container with an interior volume that is selectively expandable between a compressed condition and an expanded condition. The expandable container is coupled to a superior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with a superior surface of the expandable container, and an inferior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with an inferior surface of the expandable container. In addition, at least one inlet port is formed in the expandable container and is effective to communicate a fluid to at least one cavity disposed within the interior volume of the expandable container.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A spinal implant, comprising:
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an expandable container having an interior volume that is selectively expandable between a compressed condition and an expanded condition; a superior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with a superior surface of the expandable container; an inferior endplate member having a bone-contacting surface and an engagement surface effective to mate with an inferior surface of the expandable container; and at least one inlet port formed in the expandable container that is effective to communicate a fluid to at least one cavity disposed within the interior volume of the expandable container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for distracting two adjacent vertebra, comprising:
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surgically delivering a selectively expandable spinal fusion implant into an intervertebral disc space; expanding the spinal implant until a superior endplate and an inferior endplate of the spinal implant contact opposing bony surfaces of the two adjacent vertebra; and adjusting the expansion of the implant until the two adjacent vertebra are at a desired separation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification